Prefer Jewish News on Google
Jewish teen with valid Euro 2020 final ticket was ejected after being ‘shoved’
17-year-old Jonathan Kobrin said he already scanned his pass into the ground before being grabbed by stewards and kicked out
A Jewish schoolboy was ejected from the Euro 2020 final at Wembley despite having a valid ticket, after he was “shoved” through a turnstile by a hooligan.
Jonathan Kobrin, 17, from Hampstead told The Times of his ordeal on Sunday night, explaining how he had already scanned his pass before stewards kicked him out.
The teenager was given a ticket by his parents and arrived at the ground at 5pm amid chaotic scenes, with thousands of supporters outside the home of English football – many without access to the game.
Ahead of the final of Euro 2020 between England and Italy, the Metropolitan Police warned supporters without tickets not to travel to Wembley due to crowding.
Videos later emerged of supporters forcing their way into the ground, and an investigation was launched by UEFA, Europe’s sporting authority.
He told the Times: “I had my ticket ready. There was no one behind me but as soon as I had scanned my ticket and it went green I was shoved through the turnstile and he essentially pushed me through with it.” He explained that stewards “grabbed me by the arms and threw me into this room” before he was evicted, alongside the individual who pushed him through the turnstile – who was also eventually also kicked out.
An FA spokesperson said: “We will carry out a full review and investigation into the events that took place at Wembley Stadium before and during the UEFA EURO 2020 Final. This will be done in collaboration with the Police, the Greater London Authority, the Safety Advisory Group and the tournament delivery stakeholders.
“Security and stewarding numbers for the UEFA EURO 2020 Final exceeded the requirements for the match and were greater than any other previous event at Wembley Stadium. However, the behaviour of the people who illegally forced their way into the stadium was unacceptable, dangerous and showed total disregard for the safety and security protocols in place. No steward or security staff should be subjected to this type of behaviour and we thank them for their support on the night. We also apologise to anyone at the match whose experience was affected by this unprecedented level of public disorder.
“We will continue to work with the relevant authorities to identify and take action against these people where possible.”
The FA did not comment on the individual incident.
Kobrin’s family declined to speak to Jewish News but confirmed he is Jewish.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
